Acts 28:23-28 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

The Jews are Hardened. It was a numerous meeting; we can scarcely understand the words to mean that more came the second time than the first. The kingdom of God is a wide phrase for the Christian doctrine which began with the announcement of the nearness of God's rule (cf. Acts 1:3). The doctrine about Jesus, supported by texts from the Law and the Prophets, is appropriate to the audience, and sums up what the writer considered to be the essence of Christian preaching (cf. Luke 24:44). But they must have heard it all before; the occasion could not have such tragic importance for them as Paul's quotation of Isaiah 6:9 f. (LXX) suggests. The passage appears in the Gospels in controversy with the Jews; see Mark 4:12 *, John 12:40; also 1 Clem. 3:3, Justin, Dial. 12 and 28. The words added in mg. (Acts 28:29) are a repetition of Acts 28:24 f., and are out of place after the verdict on the Jews given in the quotation. In Romans 1:14 Paul does not profess himself debtor to the Jews; the word first in Romans 1:16 is given by WH in brackets.

Acts 28:23-28

23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.